Problem with Indicators - Any help most welcome chaps

[convert]

Right, Decided that today was too nice a day not to take the Wedge. All going great until lunch time, indicated left and got the flashers going ten to the dozen; great thinks I, blown a bulb.

Pulled over and it appears that the frnt LH indicator bulb has popped.

Then check the side light, and it's flashing. Next thought is 'O bugger looks like a faulty earth'. Anyway, upon arrival at chez convert, take the old multimeter out and check the earth, all seems well.. although the bulb housing is a little corroded, especially around the point where the earth is bonded on. There is continuity between this and the earth termnal on the battery though!

Try running a new earth flylead but still have the same problem, check the bulb and it is OK, test voltage on circuit, and I'm only getting around 5 ish volts !

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, do you guys reckon it's the earth?.

I haven't had time to get her into the air, and get underneath for a proper check / clean of the multiplug yet (Decorating!)

[digga951]

Had a similar thing a couple of years ago. Both the front side light and the indicator bulbs were flashing, then would stop, then start again etc etc. Was the earth cable where it joined to the metal backing plate. I just chopped it off, put on a new ring connector and pop riveted it back onto the backing plate. Maybe its the same problem for you? 10 minute job thats worth trying first!

Dan.

[convert]

Cheers Dan I'mgoing to try a direct earth to a spare bulb holder, and take the live from the indicator feed at the multiplug, problem is getting time to do it.

Bloody hall, stairs and landing to finish first, 10 sodding rolls of wallpaper a dozen doors to paint, and 10 sqM of tiles to lay !

[leorest]

I've always found using a jump lead to connect a suspect earth directly to the battery negative terminal proves its integrity much more effectively than a multimeter can.

[wedg1e]

leorest said:

I've always found using a jump lead to connect a suspect earth directly to the battery negative terminal proves its integrity much more effectively than a multimeter can.

[rev-erend]

Funny - I had a 12 V supply and was looking for an earth and found the seat belt anchorage bolt to the chassis .. guess how many volts.

5 !

Like they say above - run from the battery (-) as it's a known good earth.. then when you know the problem - find a fix.

[leorest]

Low voltage can be a bit mysterious sometimes because you don't need much resistance to drop a few volts or to limit the current.
Mind you high voltage is not always straight forward and neither is RF... In fact the whole elastic trickery thing can get confusing... Think I'll go back to bed now

[wedg1e]

leorest said:

Low voltage can be a bit mysterious sometimes because you don't need much resistance to drop a few volts or to limit the current.
Mind you high voltage is not always straight forward and neither is RF... In fact the whole elastic trickery thing can get confusing... Think I'll go back to bed now

Ah, RF burns... Like a cross between a soldering-iron burn and an electric shock

Remember them well from my ham days...

[convert]

Thanks for the help guys.

I cleaned up a spot on the back of the indicator, ran a temp earth from the battery, and hey presto the 'blinkin' indicator works.

So i've chopped the old earth at the ring connector, drilled another hole in the reflector, and attached it with a small self tapper.....all working great.

PS I've also stipped out the chrome dash / heater/ glove box panels....ready to re-veneer them !